My girlfriend’s daughter is asking for no toys for Christmas, only books. I want to get her amazing books that she’ll love for life. I’ve already introduced her to Because of Winn Dixie (she loved it!) and she’s obsessed with Harry Potter. She’s recently gotten into graphic novels. I’m getting her The Phantom Tollbooth, My One Hundred Adventures, and the first Nancy Drew graphic novel. What are some other great books you’d recommend for a kid her age who has an advanced reading level? She loves reading, is incredibly creative, and absolutely brilliant. I want to give her books that feed her soul and keep her hooked on reading. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! 😊
by XavvaKdr
16 Comments
Hey there! It sounds like she has great taste in books already! I would recommend checking out “[The Secret Garden](https://wydgetlabs.com/?red=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB08DSYQ218%3F%26tag%3Damznwydget-20%26linkCode%3Dur2%26creative%3D9325%26th%3D1%26language%3Den_US)” by Frances Hodgson Burnett and “[A Wrinkle in Time](https://wydgetlabs.com/?red=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2F0312367546%3F%26tag%3Damznwydget-20%26linkCode%3Dur2%26creative%3D9325%26th%3D1%26language%3Den_US)” by Madeleine L’Engle. Both are classic books that I think she would enjoy. Also, “[The Tale of Despereaux](https://wydgetlabs.com/?red=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2F0763680893%3F%26tag%3Damznwydget-20%26linkCode%3Dur2%26creative%3D9325%26th%3D1%26language%3Den_US)” by Kate DiCamillo is another fantastic choice, especially if she’s into fantasy. Hope this helps!
Tamora Pierce’s Alanna series. She’s at just the right age for it to be a lifelong love.
*His Dark Materials* would be my #1 series to love forever. I’d normally say it is a bit advanced for 9 but you know her reading level better than I do, and if she has read all of Harry Potter, I think she can read this one, too.
Two really lovely series that would be more typical for her age group and more in line with the books you already have on your list:
*A Dash of Trouble* (*Love Sugar Magic*) by Anna Meriano
*The Hatmakers* by Tamzin Merchant
Both have magic, friendship, family and a resourceful girl protagonist.
I didn’t read it as a kid, but several people have said *The Hobbit* by J.R.R. Tolkien is very kid-friendly.
warrior cats will fill your need for YEARS.. I think I’m on year 6 or 7 of never-ending warrior cat books in my house
The Babysitters Club –
tWizard of Earthsea series by Ursula Le Guin!
Pippi Longstocking.
Since she likes Harry Potter, try “The trials of Morrigan Crow” or “Amari and the Night Brothers ” – both have a similar “average kid gets thrown into a magical world” theme.
Anything by Gary D Schmidt. “The Wednesday Wars”, “Okay for Now”, and “Just Like That” are kind of a loosely related trilogy. “The Labors of Hercules Beal” is really good.
The Menagerie series by Tui T Sutherland is amazing, has great messaging, and is so good that my teenager and I are rereading it together
A Book Dragon by Donn Kushner
The Percy Jackson series is really cool. Honestly anything by Rick Riordan
Mick Harte Was Here, The Lemonade Wars, How To Steal A Dog or anything that has to do with Greek mythology.
Mr. Lemoncello’s Library. If nothing else, she’ll have a list of more books she wants to read.
Yo major shout out to my one hundred adventures I loved that book so much as a kid!!
I really loved the Mysterious Benedict Society and shared it with my cousin when he was that age and he loved it too.